Halloween (and all that spooky nail art) has officially come and gone. Now, the most pressing conundrum we're facing is finding the best winter nail colors to decorate our mani-ready tips with. (Kidding, but we do take our nail game very seriously.) Of course, you have your demure, moody shades such as wine, burgundy, white, and navy that feel quintessentially winter, but this season, we're playing at something different—waves of shimmering metallics in rich hues of gold, silver, and rose; gemstone hues of ruby, sapphire, and emerald; and if you're more of a neutral kind of person, chocolates, creams, and candied pinks galore.
Ahead, we're sharing 15 of the best nail colors for winter we consistently applaud (and recommend!) here at WWW HQ. In fact, they're so pretty we know you'll be receiving compliments in droves all season long. Keep scrolling! Your nails are craving these magical winter shades.
1. Rose Gold
No nail color feels quite as glamorous as a turn of rose gold for winter. The shade has been trending for a few years now, but we swear we've never met a polish with the perfect proportion of shimmer and pigment until Olive June's just-launched iteration came along. Post-Halloween, it was the first color associate beauty editor Courtney Higgs and I both reached for. (See above for proof!)
2. Glossed Ebony
Black will never go out of style, but we love how bewitching and vampy it looks in the darker months of winter. Plus, Olive June's brand-new formula is one of the richest, deeply pigmented formulas you can get your tips on. Our recommendation? Wear your nails short to be especially on trend this season.
3. Ruby Red
Brilliant ruby red turns heads, elevates any outfit, and feels undeniably holiday-esque for the perfect winter mani. Plus, it's just one of those colors that instantly make you feel happy (which we crave during the doldrum months of winter). Chanel's iconic hue, or one like it, is essential in every polish wardrobe.
4. Cayenne Cocoa
A shade of chocolate brown—similar to a cozy cup of cocoa or dark-roast coffee—is an obvious choice for winter. To keep things a bit more interesting (and to invite scores of compliments), we love the color with a hint of sparkle.
5. Disco-Ball Silver
Any metallic is on point for winter, but with holiday festivities in sight, we can't resist a Studio 54 jaunt of disco-inspired silver on our nails. This formula from YSL is a best seller.
6. 24-Karat Gold
Gold is rich, universally flattering, and the ultimate way to spice up your winter beauty look in a low-maintenance way. We love YSL's cult-favorite color for our winter nail game.
7. Gray Cashmere
The perfect compromise between white and black, a warm and cozy gray plays as a remarkably flattering neutral all season long.
8. Magenta Sugarplum
Dark red and shades of burgundy are par for the course in terms of the best winter nail colors, but a rich and moody pour of plum is slightly less expected and just as stunning. Dior's limited-edition winter shade is perfect.
9. Candied Pink
We're obsessed with Smith Cult's covetable range of nail colors (all of which are on point for winter), but there's something especially cheery and bright about the shade Certain Sweetness—your quintessential ballerina pink.
10. Sapphire Blitz
It wouldn't be winter without a striking shade of deep blue. That said, navy is a bit passé, and we have our eyes on a glittering shade of sapphire (like this new polish from Essie) instead.
11. Ginger-Spiced Topaz
We await J. Hannah's polish releases with as much passion as a child awaits the ice cream truck in the middle of July. Its latest, called Fauna, is a neutral shade of Topaz sure to steal the show (and all the compliments) this season.
12. Gilded Ivy
Why go with an opaque shade of emerald when you can try the hue with the finest flecks of gilded sparkle?
13. Buffed Cream
If you want a truly immovable, at-home manicure this winter, Essie's line of Gel Couture is one of the best ways to go. For a hint of sparkle, we love the universally flattering color Daring Damsel.
14. Powdered Rose
A romantic shade of dusty rose is just what the doctor ordered this winter. We love that the color gives our tips a warm dose of color but still feels polished and relatively understated. Zoya has tons of shades within the rosy color family, but we find ourselves coming back to this enchanting color again and again.
15. Ice Blue
Last but not least, a cool shade of ice blue never feels more warranted than the onset of plummeting temperatures and ominous snowstorms. Or, you know, opening day of Frozen 2 if you're based in a warmer locale.
Up next: This Flattering Color Combo Is the Coolest Way to Do Your Nails This Season
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